Ask Sophie: If you weren't a party planner, what would you be?

I have to pause whenever someone asks me this question, because I can’t think of anything better than what I do now! Sure, there are some aspects of running a business that I could do without, but the parts where I get to work with kids and design amazingly fun events just can’t be beat. But hypothetically, if people stopped having parties tomorrow, and I had to find another job...

I know that I’d like to stay in the arts and work with kids, so here are some ideas of what I might be doing if I weren’t planning parties.

1. Have an art studio for kids where I would teach art classes.

2. Work as a content designer for someone like American Girl, Family Fun, or Highlights magazine.

3. Work as a kid’s librarian. I love books, and I’ve been working with the library system for over 10 years bringing art to various branches.

4. I love monsters and prop building, so maybe I'd work in the film industry in that capacity. It would be awesome to work with someone like Tim Burton.

5. I enjoy my tutorials on the web, so maybe I’d just continue doing that -- if I could figure out how to make it pay!

6. I’d love to write books for kids (which is something I may eventually do anyway).

7. I still love the theatre, so maybe I’d have a children’s theatre company for kids, where I could write and direct shows with and for kids.

8. I wouldn’t mind teaching or running a daycare, although I do get a bit fearful that it would be hard for me to do the same curriculum year after year.

9. I love toys, so maybe working in a toy shop would be fun. I’d rather not own the toy shop though, because the business side of my business is the only thing I don’t like about my job, so owning a business would not be on my priority list.

10. Maybe I’d work at a place like Michael’s if they let me teach the workshops there.

11. I also love physical fitness, plus pugs and bulldogs, so maybe I’d have a dog walking business that only specialized in dogs with squishy faces!

12. I started my career as a puppeteer, so working for the Muppets could be a dream job. Either I could just help on their creative team, or actually being a character. I like making funny voices!

Whatever I would be doing, it would need to mix a few key elements: kids, art, freedom, and fun. I’m not one of those 9-to-5 kind of folks. I’ve got way too much energy for a desk job! If I have to sit in a little cubicle adding numbers all day, I think I’d go insane. I need lots of creative stimulation or I go nuts!

All in all, I think I found the right place for myself. Who knows what the next 10 years will bring, but one thing’s for sure: they’d better let me wear overalls!